Tea Tree Gully Gem & Mineral Club Inc. (TTGGMC) May Clubrooms: Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, SA 5091. Postal Address: Po Box 40, St Agnes, SA 5097. Edition President: Ian Everard. 0417 859 443 Email: [email protected] 2020 Secretary: Claudia Gill. 0419 841 473 Email: [email protected] Treasurer/Membership Officer: Augie Gray: 0433 571 887 Email: [email protected] Newsletter/Web Site: Mel Jones. 0428 395 179 Email: [email protected] Web Address: https://teatreegullygemandmineralclub.com
"Rockzette" Tea Tree Gully Gem & Mineral Club News President’s Report General Interest Club Activities / Fees
Hi All, Page 3 and 4: Not much to say this month, as the Club is in Augie’s May 2020 Birthstone Selections… suspended animation for the time being due to the Corona Pandemic. Likewise, Gem & Mineral Club shows in every State have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, as with most other community activities. I’m just thankful that this year is not this Club’s show year, as our show generates most of the money needed to keep the Club financially afloat for the next 2 years. While we currently have no Page 4 and 5: Augie’s May 2020 Mineral Selections… income, we still have bills to pay, such as water and electricity, but we have enough in the kitty to keep us going. I hope all our members are staying safe and not going stir crazy. This is a good time to knock off all those little jobs around the house that you’ve been putting off! Hopefully, Australia and South Australia in *** particular, will keep observing the restrictions Page 6: Meetings and necessary to bring this pandemic to an end sooner Augie - Precious Metals and Their Alloys / Derivatives … rather than later, so we can get the Club up and workshops have been suspended running again. until further notice. Details will Mel asks that you keep contributions for the Newsletter coming in. The more the merrier. be reinstated as and when these Till next month - stay safe, and hopefully sane. are able to be resumed. Cheers, Ian.
Notices / General Interest Pages 7 to 9: Ian’s May 2020 Collection Selections… *** Happy Birthday Members celebrating May birthdays: th th 12 – Inta Chambers. 13 – Mel Jones. 19th – Margrit Rothe.
*** Pages 10 to 13: Vale Ron Lewis ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ … Members are advised of the passing of member Ron Lewis on the 19th of April, at the age of 88. Ron was a facetor, opal cutter and silversmith with the Club. Our condolences to Ron's wife Mary, and his extended family. *** Pages 2 and 3: Augie’s May 2020 Jasper Selections… Pages 14 to 26: General Interest, humour, etc…
Page 26: Members’ Noticeboard and Links… ***
The Tea Tree Gully Gem & Mineral Club Inc. is not and cannot be held responsible or liable for any personal injuries, loss or damage to property at any club activity, including, but not limited to, meetings, field trips, all crafts and club shows. An indemnity is to be signed by all participants before each and every field trip activity they attend. Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 1. Augie’s May 2020 Jasper Selections – Page 1 of 2.
Picture Jaspers The term "Picture Jasper" encompasses a wide range of stones. Jasper in general is found all over the world, but Picture Jaspers are predominantly found in the United States, except for Royal Sahara, which, as the name suggests, comes from the Sahara Desert in Africa. Most Picture Jaspers in the U.S. are found in Oregon and Idaho. Oregon has produced some stunning Jaspers. While stones are often named for the person who discovered them, most Picture Jasper names indicate their location. Biggs Jasper is from Biggs, Oregon. Bruneau Jasper comes from Bruneau Canyon, Idaho. And so on. Each Jasper is distinctive and (for 03. the most part) easily identifiable, except for Biggs and Deschutes, which come from mines near each other, and look very similar to the 07. untrained eye. Some Picture Jaspers are a mixture of browns, while others such as Cripple Creek, Owyhee, Rocky Butte, Succor Creek and Wildhorse have areas of blue, which can be cut to show as sky above a landscape, and are the epitome of a “picture” stone. The American Picture Jaspers we’ll be looking at in this series are: Name Location Apache Mimbres Valley, New Mexico 08. Biggs Biggs Junction, Oregon Blue Mountain Malheur County, Oregon Bruneau Bruneau River Canyon, Idaho Cripple Creek Owyhee Mtns., Oregon Deschutes Biggs Canyon, Oregon 04. Disaster Peak Trout Creek Mtns., Nevada Gary Green McDermott, Nevada Morrisonite Malheur County, Oregon Owyhee Owyhee River, Oregon Rocky Butte Rocky Butte, Oregon Succor Creek Owyhee Mtns., Oregon Wildhorse Owyhee Mtns., Oregon Willow Creek Eagle, Idaho 09. Augie’s May 2020 Jasper Selections – Apache Jasper Apache Jasper (or Apache Rhyolite) also known as Mimbres Jasper. This attractive material comes from a small deposit in the Mimbres Valley, northeast of Deming, New Mexico. It is immediately recognisable for its plum and pink hues, often with dendritic inclusions.
10. 05.
01.
02. 06. 11.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 2. Augie’s May 2020 Jasper Selections – Page 2 of 2 and May 2020 Birthstone Selections – Page 1 of 2..
Augie’s May 2020 Jasper Selections – produced commercially viable synthetic Continued... Emeralds. As Emerald is the second most valuable gemstone, there is a good market for synthetic stones. “Synthetic” – a stone whose physical, chemical and optical properties are identical to its earth- mined equivalent, but which is created in a laboratory. “Simulant” – a stone which has a similar appearance to a natural stone and is used to “simulate” that stone. Commonly known as “fakes”. Jadeite has more simulants than any other gem material – over 20 different minerals are known to be passed off as Jadeite.
12.
16. *** Augie’s May 2020 Birthstone Selections
13. 02.
01. Emerald – Birthstone for May Emerald is the green gem variety of the mineral Beryl. Tech. Stuff 03. Chemical composition - (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) Hardness – 7.5 – 8 Crystal System – Hexagonal Specific Gravity – 2.67 -2.78
14. Refractive Index – 1.564 – 1.602 Emeralds have been found in over 30 countries worldwide. They were mined in Egypt as far back as 1500 BCE, and in India and Austria since at least the 14 century CE. The Egyptian mines were worked on an industrial scale by the Roman and Byzantine empires, and later by 04. Islamic conquerors. Today, the primary source of Emeralds is Colombia, with the 3 main areas being Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez. Colombia is unique in its production of rare “trapiche” emeralds (see article in Aug. 2019 Rockzette). Zambia is the world’s second largest producer. Synthetic Emeralds have been successfully
produced since 1930, by both flux and 05. hydrothermal methods. Such names as Chatham, Gilson, Kyocera, Biron, Farben, Continued next page…
15. Linde, Lechleitner and Inamori have all
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 3. Augie’s May 2020 Birthstone Selections – Page 2 of 2 and May 2020 Mineral Matters Selections -Page 1 of 2.
Augie’s May 2020 Emerald Birthstone Augie’s May 2020 Mineral Selections – Continued... Selections…
06. Datolite with Prehnite & Calcite.
Amethyst on Quartz.
07.
Emerald – MUZO.
Aquamarine.
08.
Fluorite on Calcite.
Trapiche 01 Bixbite (red Beryl).
Trapiche 02 Goethite. *** Cuprian Adamite – GREECE.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 4. Augie’s May 2020 Mineral Matters Selections -Page 2 of 2.
Augie’s May 2020 Mineral Selections…
Gold on Calcite.
Tourmaline on Smoky Quartz. Tourmaline - Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, CALIFORNIA.
Haematite included Quartz with Chalcedony – MOROCCO. Proustite.
Rosasite on Calcite.
Wulfenite - Red Cloud Mine, La Paz, ARIZONA. *** Plancheite, Katanga, ZAIRE.
Calcite blades with Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, and Quartz sprays at top Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Maramures Co., Romania Collection. Photo Kevin Ward and The Mineral Gallery, Inc. Quartz on Wulfenite. *** Rutile – MADAGASCAR.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 5. Precious Metals and Their Alloys / Derivatives -Page 1 of 1.
Contributed by Augie (pictures added by editor) … 24k = pure (99.9% gold) (.999) ‘white gold’, as opposed to refined gold. The Precious Metals and Their Alloys / Derivatives 22k = 91.7% gold (.916) gold content of naturally occurring Electrum 18k = 75% gold (.750) ranges from 70% - 90%. It is also produced 14k = 58.3% gold (.585) artificially. The colour ranges from pale to 10k = 41.7% gold (.417) bright yellow, depending on the proportions of 9k = 37.5% gold (.375) gold and silver. Yellow gold can be alloyed with copper, zinc, nickel and/or cobalt. Regardless of what metals are added to the gold alloy, its purity is measured in the same way. Rose Gold / Red Gold is an alloy of yellow From Dreamland Jewellery…Sterling Silver Rings gold and copper, or copper and silver. Although Silver the names are often used interchangeably, the Fine Silver is 100% silver. It is not often used difference between red, rose, and pink gold is on its own other than for embellishing, as it is the copper content: the higher the copper too soft for everyday wear. content, the stronger the red coloration. Sterling Silver is an alloy of pure silver and Pink gold uses the least copper, followed by some other metal, usually copper. It is the rose gold, with red gold having the highest White gold and Platinum in square wire form. additional metal which strengthens the silver. copper content. Examples of the common From…White Gold vs Platinum – What Jewellers Wont Tell You. alloys for 18K rose gold, 18K red gold, 18K The standard for sterling is a minimum of Platinum (Pt) 92.5% silver, so sterling is often stamped pink gold, and 12K red gold include: Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal. “925”. • 18K red gold: 75% gold, 25% copper It is rarer than gold, and much denser and more Argentium is one of a new generation of silver • 18K rose gold: 75% gold, 22.25% copper, durable. Platinum can be used in a purer form alloys. It was developed specifically to combat 2.75% silver than gold, usually at about 95%. the tarnish that occurs as silver oxidises when it • 18K pink gold: 75% gold, 20% copper, 5% Platinum jewellery is consequently more comes into contact with air, and also to combat silver expensive than gold jewellery. fire scale. Argentium, however, contains a White Gold does not occur naturally. It is 95% platinum is the traditional standard, greater amount of pure silver depending on the yellow gold alloyed with white coloured metals usually marked ‘950Pt’ or simply PLAT. grade (935 which contains 93.5% pure silver, such as zinc, silver or platinum. As the Platinum does not fade or tarnish, and is or 960 which contains 96% pure silver), with additional metals are not sufficient to alter the the remainder being made up of other alloys, hypoallergenic, making it ideal for those with colour to pure white, white gold alloys are sensitive skins. such as a small amount of germanium. rhodium plated, which gives a very hard, silver Platinum is harder and almost twice as heavy as Argentium is claimed to be 7 times more coloured coating. The only disadvantage is that Palladium. tarnish resistant than sterling silver. the rhodium plating usually needs to be Silver-Filled is a misnomer, as rather than replaced every so often. being filled with silver, it is simply an Vermeil (pronounced “vermay”) is sterling underlying base metal (either copper or brass) silver which has been gold plated, generally to which a layer of sterling silver has been with 24 karat (pure) gold. mechanically bonded. For a product to be Gold-Filled (formerly known as Rolled-Gold) considered silver-filled, it must have at least is made by the same process as Silver-Filled – a 1/20 of its weight in silver. This is equal to 5% core of base metal, usually jeweller’s brass, to silver. The layer may be either 1/20 or 1/10. In which is mechanically bonded a layer of 24k either case it is many hundreds of times thicker gold. It is designated by a quality mark like than silver plate. 1/20 14K GF or perhaps 1/10 12K RGP. The Silver Plated is similar to Silver-Filled, but the fraction refers to the percent by weight of the silver coating, which is electroplated rather piece that is gold and the 12 or 14K refers to than mechanically bonded to the base metal is the purity of the gold itself. only microns thick, and will wear off easily Gold Plated is a core of base metal, with a From Palladium Bridal Jewellery Manufacturing. under normal, everyday use. You will often see microns thin layer of 24k gold. Having such a Palladium is a lustrous white material, one of the term “sterling plated” on items for sale on thin layer, gold-plated jewellery is an the six platinum-group metals (along with sites like eBay. There is no such thing. Sterling inexpensive alternative to gold-filled items, but Ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, iridium and silver is an alloy, and you cannot plate with an it is not durable under day-to-day conditions. alloy. platinum itself). Palladium is stronger, but lighter, than Platinum. ***
From Gemvara…14K Rose Gold Ring with Diamond.
From British Museum…Electrum torc with ornamented terminals. Electrum (also known as “Green gold”) Gold Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold Gold purity – karats (or “carats” outside North. and silver, with trace amounts of copper and America). The karat is a very old measure of other metals. It has been in use since the Old rd how much gold there is in an alloy. Pure gold is Kingdom of Egypt in the 3 millennium BC. From SHIELS…9ct Yellow Gold 1 Carat Diamond Ring. described as 24 karat, but this is too soft on its The ancient Greeks referred to it as ‘gold’ or own. ***
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 6. Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Selections – Page 1 of 3.
Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Selections…
2004 Quartz var. Amethyst, Rio Grande du Sol, BRAZIL. 1376 Quartz, Wadnaminga Station, South Australia.
2411 Quartz, Amethyst Castle, Selwyn, QUEENSLAND.
2410, Quartz, Amethyst Castle, Selwyn, QUEENSLAND.
2007 Quartz var. Amethyst, Kuridalla, QUEENSLAND. 2413 Quartz, Toms Mountain, Mary Kathleen, QUEENSLAND.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 7. Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Selections – Page 2 of 3.
Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Selections - Continued…
2171, Quartz, Amethyst Castle, Selwyn, QUEENSLAND.
2414 Quartz, Toms Mountain, Mary Kathleen, QUEENSLAND.
2684 Quartz, Victoria Tower Mine, Wadnaminga, South Australia. 2685 Quartz, Victoria Tower Mine, Wadnaminga, South Australia.
0156 Tourmaline on Smokey Quartz, Lake Boga Quarry, VIC.
2305 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES. 0342 Quartz, Wadnaminga, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
0157 Tourmaline on Smokey Quartz, Lake Boga Quarry, VIC.
2300 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES.
2653 Quartz Faden, Dara Ismael, South Waziristan, PAKISTAN. Continued next page… 0848 Quartz, River View Quarry, Highbury, S.A. 0548 Quartz Faden, Dara Ismael, South Waziristan, PAKISTAN.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 8. Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Selections – Page 3 of 3. Plus Augie’s Quiz for Older Kids.
Ian’s May 2020 Quartz Collection Contributed by Augie Selections… Quiz for Older Kids
2296 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES. 13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, “The day the music died.” This was a tribute to “______”. 14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it. It was called “______”. 15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a large plastic ring that we twirled This may be harder than you may think. The around our waist. It was called the answers will be on the tip of your tongue, but “______- ______”. you just can't quite remember the correct answer. 16. Remember LS/MFT? “______/ Don't look for the answers until you have tried ______”. to figure it out first. 17. Hey Kids! What time is it? “It's ______2306 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES. ______“. 1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful 18. Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts citizens would ask, “Who was that masked of men? Only The “______” Knows! man?” Invariably, someone would answer, 19. There was a song that came out in the 60's I don't know, but he left something behind. that was "a graveyard smash". Its name What did he leave behind? “______was the “______”! ______”. 20. Alka Seltzer used a "boy with a tablet on 2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in his head" as it's Logo/Representative. early 1964, we all watched them on “The What was the boy's name? “______”. ______Show”. 3. “Get your kicks, ______”. 4. “The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed “______2308 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES. ______”. 5. “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, “______”. 6. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we “danced” under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the “______”. 7. Nestle's makes the very best “______”.
8. Satchmo was America's “Ambassador of Goodwill.” Our parents shared this great Answers are on the last page. jazz trumpet player with us. His name was *** 2309 Quartz, Muttama, NEW SOUTH WALES. “______”. 9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? “______”. 10. Red Skelton's hobo character was named? “______”; and Red always ended his television show by saying, “Good Night, and ______”. 11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their “______”. 12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called 2667 Quartz Faden, Dara Ismael, South Waziristan, PAKISTAN. the VW. What other names did it go by *** “______” or “______”. ***
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 9. General Interest - ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ – Part 18 of 24 – Page 1 of 4.
Contributed by Mel Jones… ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ by Garry Reynolds Part 19 of 24…
The Newcastle City waterfront today where Aborigines once fished from canoes, convicts hewed coal and a railway system developed and disappeared over a period of 160 years. Source: Familypedia.
1911 and 1927. The Company developed the very useful design of tank locomotive which melded the best features of the NSWGR’s P and T class locomotives to evolve the 10-class. They were the most powerful tank locomotives to be used in Australia and the last class of steam locomotives used commercially, finishing in 1987. A year later, Coal & Allied Industries placed four 10-class locomotives with the Richmond Vale Railway, another heritage operation in the Hunter Region. An SMR tank locomotive hauling an aged passenger consist. An early morning haul of coal out of the Hunter Valley on the Source: Hiveminer. South Maitland Railways. Source: Mal Austin. The 10-class design arose from a strategic Steam at the Rothbury Riot – South move by the SMR to standardise its motive Maitland Railways. power. There was already a well-established Today, on the site of the Rothbury Riot of relationship between Beyer-Peacock and the 1929, which saw one miner killed from police NSWGR as its biggest global customer. The revolver fire and 43 wounded, the Hunter South Maitland Railways needed to work Valley Railway Trust (HVRT) stores a closely with the NSWGR as they would be collection of coal and freight wagons and interfacing at exchange sidings with the SMR’s passenger coaches, and a variety of ex-New wooden unbraked coal hopper wagons being South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) picked up Government locomotives to take to locomotives. At one time, it included seven of the Port of Newcastle and returned to be taken on by SMR locomotives to their respective the fourteen heritage-listed South Maitland An SMR 10-class tank locomotive with a wooden hopper coal Railways (SMR) 10 Class tank locomotives, train. Source: Flickr. collieries. until they were sold to the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum.
Hard dirty work for SMR 10-class tank locomotives steaming Raking ash from SMR 10-class tank locomotive No.17. Source: quietly at the Depot. Source: Weston Langford. Australian Steam. The fourteen 10-class tank engines were The acquisition of the robust tank locomotives delivered in knocked down form, and put came about after the East Greta Coal Company together at the East Greta Junction Workshops. Rothbury Station near the site of the Riot, almost like a scene out of had founded its Hunter rail network on a core These locomotives complemented the ex- England. Source: Jim’s Model Railways. of diverse second-hand and borrowed steam British WW1 military ROD (Railway locomotives. By 1910, these were struggling to Operating Division) locomotives on the SMR’s haul the increasing volumes of coal being won roster that had been bought by coal mining from the Greta Seam which ran right through magnates, J&A Brown in the 1920s, the the South Maitland Coalfields. engines having once worked on the Western Front.
Laying in new rails and sleepers at SMR’s East Greta Junction. Source: Mal Austin. The SMR 10 Class tank locomotives were built for the East Greta Coal Company (later South
Maitland Railways) by Beyer, Peacock and SMR 10-class locomotives lined up ready for work at East Greta SMR 10-class tank locomotives working hard double-heading a Company in Manchester, England, between Junction Depot. Source: Flickr. heavy coal train. Source: Australian Steam.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 10. General Interest - ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ – Part 19 of 24 – Page 2 of 4.
cancelled owing to coal shortages, with such a limited number of seats on the ‘Newcastle Flyer’, the Railways had to put a stop to a scam where people were block-booking seats out of Newcastle and then on-selling them at a profit! However, the impacts of the coal rationing were not limited to the NSWGR and the Newcastle rail network. It had implications further afield, especially for interstate coal destinations such as Melbourne, Hobart, and
SMR tank locomotives double heading a coal train in reverse. Adelaide which desperately relied on Source: Brett Kavangh. The ‘Little Engine That Could’ with a heavy coal load on the SMR. Newcastle coal. Source: Mal Austin. Despite the shortage of labour during the War World War 2 puts the pressure on as due to military enlistments, coal continued to the Hunter rail networks struggle be mined in a very labour-intensive way. The path to gaining increased production and efficiency was a tortuous one no matter the demand and urgency of the War situation. The Miners Union leadership was vigorously opposed to increased mechanisation without compensation, because of the loss of jobs that would come with it not only in wartime but in An SMR train crossing the Main Northern Line at Hexham. the peace. In any case, the mine owners were Source: Weston Langford. often unable or unwilling to finance introducing more machinery, keeping in mind the contraction that came after WW1 as other competitive mines around the world came back SMR 10-class locomotive No. 24 freshly painted and lined after completion of boiler repairs in 1993. Source: Wikipedia. on stream and shipping recovered. After the SMR’s locomotives were well and Additionally, amidst constant industrial truly embedded in the system, they would have disruption, attempts to build capacity to to work extra hard during WW2 with little stockpile coal in Newcastle were resisted maintenance. On the industrial front, while vigorously by the mining unions because it Australia was increasingly becoming directly diluted their power to use the strike weapon if threatened by the push South by the Japanese, there were reserves of coal. This problem was you would think at last this would be a catalyst exacerbated by the reluctance of the coal for cooperation between workers and bosses in owners to spend money on storage at their the Northern Coalfields. Almost unbelievably - collieries, seeing no direct return in profit and no. So entrenched was the industrial war, only increased costs. During WW2, self- especially in the Newcastle coal supply chain, interest ruled on both sides on the Northern that industrial interruptions increased. It seems Coalfields and the railways were caught in the hard to imagine today, but in a time of national middle - yet again! emergency, coal production decreased and time Coal shortages were also exacerbated when a lost to strikes increased throughout WW2! convoy system had to be adopted for coastal After the outbreak of war, the mining unions shipping in response to sinkings by enemy saw an opportunity to make up for past submarines and the laying of enemy sea mines stagnation in wages and conditions that had along the Australian coast. The lack of coal been lost back in the era of the Rothbury Riot storage became an even greater impediment. and of the Great Depression. In 1940, early in The convoy system slowed transport by rail the War, there was a 10-week strike in the from the Hunter collieries with workers Northern Coalfields to win shorter working basically waiting for groups of ships to arrive. hours - it succeeded. In any case, shipping was scarce because of other military needs. Although it was Miners’ Federation policy to fully co-operate until the end of the War, coal The only alternative for a time in the interstate output declined steadily from 12.25 million coal trade was to rail more coal to Melbourne tons in 1942, to 11.5 million in 1943, 11 and Adelaide out of Newcastle on tracks million in 1944, and just over 10 million tons in already clogged with military traffic. Of course, 1945. this also entailed frustrating changes of gauge slowing progress with loading and unloading at In 1942, nearly 180,000 working days were lost borders. This colonial gauge legacy caused the through strikes; in 1943, over 325,000, and in breaking up of coal with the extra handling and 1944 over 300 000. diverted crucial manpower from the war fronts. Newcastle, as the prime coal hub of Australia, Of course, the movement of more coal onto the was the centre of much of this dislocation. The NSWGR from ships was an extra burden on an industrial conflict constantly interrupted the organisation ill-prepared for war. It was already NSWGR which was struggling to supply barely muddling through with less manpower enough rail services to wage war. Strikes due to military volunteering. Over 4,000 interrupted the supply of good coal to run the NSWGR employees were serving in the Railways’ rapidly deteriorating stock of military; 200 had been loaned to the locomotives and rolling stock. Schematics of the SMR’s complex colliery network which was Commonwealth Government owing to their joined up at Weston. Source: Wikipedia. Not only were many passenger train services technical expertise; and another 4,000 were
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 11. General Interest - ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ – Part 19 of 24 – Page 3 of 4. working on direct defence-related projects. between Labor and Communist-leaning union As the economy was struggling to recover from Nearly 1,000 women were recruited to alleviate leaderships. It only needed one group within WW2, already the NSWGR faced a massive shortages in less skilled positions. the whole system to go on strike, say the task with its equipment very run down. It Struggling for labour and rolling stock in this signalmen, and much of the vital war supply needed some stability to rebuild and situation, the Railways had not installed the chain could grind to a halt. recapitalise with new equipment. A major types of facilities to stockpile large volumes of WW2 ends but not the industrial war potential revenue source was the Newcastle coal in major centres along the main lines. coal traffic. But this was to prove a massive in the Hunter vulnerability in the late 1940s. Coal dumps had to be established along the The Railways’ coal supply chain situation did way on these routes but also to keep the extra not improve when the War was won in 1946. After the War, workers felt it was time to be steam engines heading South and returning on This seemed to be the starting point for even rewarded. They saw the opportunity to ‘cash in’ previously lightly-used back lines to avoid more aggressive industrial action with on the Post-War rebuilding of the economy, increasing main line rail bottlenecks. increasingly Communist-led unions taking on a including the railways. Yet Prime Minister From the second half of 1944, coal traffic was Post-War fightback policy by the employers Chifley opposed calls for wage increases to reduced to half its ‘normal level’ due to coal and the Federal Labor Government now under compensate for wartime sacrifices. Unionists industry industrial action. This slashed railway Ben Chifley. In capturing the volatile responded with strike action, with 4 million revenue which forced severe economies in the atmosphere of the times, artist, Donald Friend, days lost during 1945-46 alone. As they made provision of passenger services. Seats were in wrote in his diary on 21 May 1946: substantial gains, it encouraged the great demand due to stringent petrol rationing “The world still reverberates with news of development of plans to achieve more gains for private cars and the slashing of passenger calamities ... In Australia, the shipping strike through direct action. services due to troop train demands and priority which tied up the entire shipping industry in the Despite the Federal Labor Government’s for military freight trains. country is settled, but already there are threats objection, the Arbitration Court granted a 40- As an alternative, some car owners resorted to of another one, coal strikes are so general that hour week in 1948 which led to demands for a fitting charcoal burners to provide a poor they are hardly mentioned in the news, and five-day week with penalty rates for weekend substitute fuel for their vehicle. The NSWGR Sydney is on the border of another electric working. Railway workers led the charge in tried this with its diesel-powered rail motors power crisis for lack of fuel for the Bunnerong February 1948. but after 5 caught fire and were destroyed, it powerhouse.” The Community Party was now well-placed to stopped the practice. exploit the fractious industrial environment and gaps between the industrial and parliamentary wings of the Labor Party. The Community Party had expanded its membership and secured key leadership and shop-floor positions in the blue-collar unions which dominated Newcastle – the miners, the railways and the maritime unions. Over half of all Australia’s trade unions were now led by Communist Party of Australia members or supporters.
Boys fishing off the rocks near Bunnerong ‘A’ Powerhouse. Already, in 1946, the NSWGR had become so Source: Wikipedia. Motive vehicle with a charcoal burner fitted during WW2. Source: concerned at the prospect of ongoing industrial Monica Lynch. Northern workers could remember starkly the action on the coal fields, it decided to convert The Federal Government wrestles unemployment which peaked at about 30% in 70 of its 120 Class-55 steam locos to oil with the industrial problems in the the 1930s in the Newcastle District and the burning. The first 6 locomotives were to burn Hunter 40,000 Australians who died during WW2 and distillate, despite it costing 5 times that of coal those on the Homefront who underwent strict fuel. The industrial outlook was that desperate! Amidst the rising industrial conflict on the rationing of essential goods and services. They Northern Coalfields and escalating wanted to make up for the ‘lost years’. Later, when cheaper crude oil became interruptions to the railways’ coal supply, the available, the 6 locomotives were modified to Most people at the time thought that Ben Federal Labor Government under John Curtin, burn the heavier product. With no signs of Chifley would be the leader to a new life for gritted its teeth and tried to work with the improvement in the coalfields, a further 10 Australians behind his vision of ‘The Light on miners, shipping companies, seamen, coal were converted in 1947 and when things got the Hill’. They were also convinced that he companies and the railways. Really, though, the really serious in 1949, another 54 went down would be able to manage the brewing industrial result was pretty ordinary when you look at the the conversion path. Still, with some situation, bearing in mind that he had been a constantly declining coal production figures. adjustments in both firing and driving militant railways union leader in NSW during technique it was discovered that the oil- In this context, the NSW Labor Government the General Strike in World War 1 and paid a powered steam locomotives could pull slightly bent over backwards to keep the railway unions severe penalty with unemployment and heavier tonnages than the traditional coal- onside in Newcastle by building substantial demotion. fuelled versions. However, a problem arose amenities for employees at Newcastle Station This was not to prove so. Again, Newcastle and with the boilers not being designed from and Marshalling Yard and Broadmeadow Yard its railway system would be right in the firing scratch for oil burning - way beyond the standard that would have line. been expected normally in peacetime let alone It was already known by NSWGR engineers a war emergency. that boiler life was less for an oil-fired locomotive as against a coal-fired one. Poor Even within the railways union movement there combustion resulted in soot collecting in the were disputes between at least 4 different boiler tubes. But it was found that two scoops unions representing different types of railway of sand thrown into the combustion chamber employees. Combative union leaderships were soon remedied the situation on the run. often involved in demarcation disputes with Nevertheless, an interesting caution had to be other railway unions in NSW as they chased issued as the cleaning process led to sudden new members. Unfortunately, the public, emissions of oily black smoke. After many freight forwarders, including the collieries, and complaints were received from households of course the overall war effort, bore the brunt of the internal disputes heightened by jousting An SMR tank locomotive stopping for water amid lines of wooden coal hoppers. Source Mal Austin. Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 12. General Interest - ‘Newcastle and Rail – The Never-ending Story’ – Part 19 of 24 – Page 4 of 4. about soiled washing, instructions were issued after 7 weeks of striking. The following week that cleanouts had to take place well away from the imprisoned union leaders were released. A where backyards were adjacent to the tracks. few weeks later, the miners were granted long There were compensations though for crew in service leave which eventually flowed onto the that oil burners did not require the constant rest of the Australian workforce. labour of shovelling coal. The 1949 Australian Coal Crisis was significant The 1949 Coal Strike as it was the first time Australian military Dirty washing from oil burning locomotives forces were used during peacetime to break a would prove to be the least of the community’s trade union strike. In a production by the problems. The ground was fertile in the Hunter National Film and Sound Archive in 2008, the for further industrial conflict. By 1949, ‘The significance of the Coal Strike of 1949 was Light on the Hill’, was barely a flicker in many emphasised beyond the immediate years: areas, including Newcastle, with shortages and “The coal strike was the Communist Party’s rationing still in place on some items and big grab for power. It hoped to precipitate a housing in extremely short supply. In seeking great national crisis which it could benefit from the longed-for improvements to wages and and perhaps even turn into a revolution. conditions, negotiations between the miners Chifley took them on, and won, but at fatal cost. and the coal owners had broken down yet After the coal strike the Communist Party was again. The miners had served a log of claims on shattered irretrievably as a potent political the coal owners for a 35-shillings a week wage force. The ALP was ejected from office. Robert increase, a 35-hour week, and the insertion of Menzies (1894–1978) and the Liberals seized long service provisions in their award. the ascendancy, won government in December When these claims were rejected by the coal 1949, and didn’t let it slip from their grasp for owners, a vote for national strike action was the next 22 years.” carried overwhelmingly by the members of the Protestors follow PM Chifley during the Coal Strike. Source: Honest History. The Rail Recovery mining unions. As the miners went on strike, Meanwhile, with the Coal Crisis overcome, the But the Strike continued. In the Labor Caucus, their families moved into survival mode. They NSWGR converted 16 of the oil burning 55- future Labor Party Leader, Arthur Calwell, helped hide union funds to get around the class locomotives back to coal burning. The threatened to force Communists and their Government’s attempts to freeze them. remainder were stored, as oil burning was still sympathisers into concentration camps! Supportive mining neighbourhoods and Miners very expensive, costing 4 times that of coal. Lodges established group kitchens and fishing Nevertheless, the NSW Government took out and rabbit hunting parties were organised to some ‘insurance’ against future coal strikes by supply food. As coal supplies were in short purchasing twenty 59-class Mikado oil-burning supply, families went out fossicking along locomotives built by Baldwin in the USA in the railway lines and old collieries for lumps of early 1950s. They were introduced by the coal to keep their home fires burning for NSWGR on the ‘Short North’ line between cooking and heating. Broadmeadow near Newcastle and Enfield in Sydney. In the Hunter, it would prove a long way back Unionists march in protest at the introduction of the Army in 1949. for the railway network and the coal supply Source: Newcastle Herald. chain, but amazing results would be achieved Then, in an unprecedented move, the through collaboration between workers, Government really upped the ante – it used businesses, government and the Region’s military force to take over some of the coal community in the succeeding decades as mines. Chifley’s Government allocated 2,500 Newcastle became the world’s largest coal men in the armed forces to work an increasing export port. number of open cut mines to get some essential supplies of coal into a desperate community. This was essential for the NSWGR which was Families desperately looking for stray coal at Mayfield, Newcastle, still steam-reliant or depended on electrically- in 1949. Source: University of Newcastle. driven trains in Sydney fed from coal-fired Coal stocks were becoming severely depleted power stations. Critically, the Federal nationally and thousands of workers, including Government had convinced the NSW rail those on the railways, were being stood down workers to ‘scab’ and carry coal declared as electric power shortages spread. The ‘black’ by the miners’ unions. At the time, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) key Australian Railway Union (ARU) was condemned the strike as a mass of opposition under the control of moderate Labor Party was growing against the miners. The Federal officials. SMR Tank locomotives power up a grade through suburbia. Labor Government claimed the strike was a Source: Mal Austin. conspiracy by the Communists to take over More To Come In Part 20 Next Month… Australia. Len Leffrey, one of the strikers, said later on the ABC, that soon: *** “The Communists’ support among miners and Watch SMR Tank Locomotives in action – Australia generally was such they would fail to VHS videoed by Mel Jones in 1986… run a daily train service from Sydney to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRiFZssyVXQ Wollongong let alone run the country!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P5lX1xbJo8 The Chifley Government became frustrated in not being able to quarantine union funds which https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdSNPLTvIE Coal Miners’ Strike supporters vent their feelings. Source: SPA. helped prolong the Strike. Its next step was to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1ygOmsd5s jail the union leaders! Finally, the 23,000 miners returned to work *** Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 13. General Interest – Unusual History in Photos - – Page 1 of 2.
Contributed by Doug Hughes… Unusual History in Photos
An Ottoman supply train still lays where it was ambushed by Lawrence of Arabia on the Hejaz railway during World War I.
This 500-year-old boxwood miniature from the 16th century was 18th century carved door in Germany with incredible workmanship. created in the Netherlands.
Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian wore these armored gloves from 1508 until his death in 1519. (Where Star Wars got some of their designs?)
A futuristic looking 1938 Dymaxion, designed by American inventor Buckminster Fuller.
This small ornate axe was made in Germany during the late 1500s.
The Cau Vang bridge, outside the city of Da Nang, Vietnam is held up by two giant stone hands.
Carbonized bread from Pompeii that still has the baker's stamp on it, 79 AD. Designed and built in the late 1800's, this steamer trunk coverts into a stand-up dresser so the traveller doesn't have to unpack.
This amazing 16th Century ring unfolds into an astronomical sphere. Shoes worn by Allied spies during World War II to steer The 1936 Stout Scarab is one of the first minivans. adversaries in the opposite direction.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 14. General Interest – Unusual History in Photos – Page 2 of 2.
Unusual History in Photos – Continued…
'Cow shoes' used by moonshiners in the Prohibition days to The library inside of the Waldsassen Abbey in Bavaria holds disguise their footprints, 1924. thousands of volumes bound in white pigskin.
Mildred Burke, a pioneer of women's pro-wrestling who began wrestling men at carnivals in 1935. She would go on later to wrestle over 200 men, losing to only 1.
90-year-old Grandma in the Czech Republic passes time by artistically painting houses.
Marketed as a toy for kids, U-238 Atomic Energy Labs came with three different types of live uranium ore and a Geiger counter.
Extreme tree pruning crew from the late 1800s.
Nicknamed 'Methuselah' this Californian bristlecone pine tree was seeded in the year 2833 BC, which makes this tree 4,850 years old.
The ornate Elephant Tower of the Carlsberg Brewery in Kopenhagen, 1901.
One of the most iconic photographs ever taken/ Bob Hope, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra (circa 1975).
17 year-old Juliane Koepcke was sucked out of an airplane in 1971 after it was struck by a bolt of lightning. She fell 2 miles to the The ornate Klementinum Library in Prague. ground, strapped to her seat and survived after she endured 10 days A triple-decker bus roaming the streets of Berlin, Germany. more in the Amazon Jungle. *** Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 15. General Interest.
Contributed by Augie… This Is What … Looks Like?
This is what your tax dollars look like.
This is what courage looks like.
This is what sorry looks like.
This is what a bad mood looks like. This is what a blonde's car looks like. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so....
'Love the people who treat you right - Pray for the ones who don't.
This is what tired looks like.
This is what bad spelling looks like.
This is what intimacy looks like.
Some great work arranging these titles !!! This is what 'good grief' looks like.
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 16. General Interest Humour.
Contributed by Doug Hughes… A Few Funnies
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 17. General Interest - Humour.
Contributed by Doug Walker… Some Humour I Found Today
*** Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 18. General Interest – Humour.
Contributed by Augie… Contributed by Doug Walker… Contributed by Doug Walker… Inner Peace A COVID-19 Poem In these difficult times with Covid-19 we I’m normally a social girl should all be listening to our family Doctor. I love to meet my mates Heard a Dr. on TV saying in this time of But lately with the virus here Coronavirus staying at home we should focus We can’t go out the gates. on inner peace. To achieve this, we should You see, we are the ‘oldies’ now always finish things we start and we all could We need to stay inside If they haven’t seen us for a while use more calm in our lives. They’ll think we’ve upped and died. I looked through my house to find things I'd They’ll never know the things we did started and hadn't finished, so I finished off a Before we got this old bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a There wasn’t any Facebook Rescue Dogs. bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, tha mainder So not everything was told. Book Titles of Valiumun srciptuns, an a box a chocletz. Yu We may seem sweet old ladies haf no idr how feckin fablus I feel rite now. Who would never be uncouth “Keep Out” by Barb Dwyer. Sned this to all who need inner piss. An telum u But we grew up in the 60s – “Uninteresting Road Signs” by Bill Bored. luvum. And two hash yer wands, stafe day If you only knew the truth! “How to Buy Groceries” by Chopin Liszt. avrybobby! There was sex and drugs and rock ‘n roll The pill and miniskirts “Six Foot Under” by Doug Graves. *** We smoked, we drank, we partied “French Overpopulation” by Francis And were quite outrageous flirts. Crowded. Contributed by Doug Walker… Then we settled down, got married Revenge Is Sweet for Scomo! And turned into someone’s mum, “Strong Winds” by Gail Fawce. (Think about this!) Somebody’s wife, then nana, Who on earth did we become? “Toupee Embarrassment” by Harrison 1. Some wouldn’t shake his hand - now nobody Backwards. We didn’t mind the change of pace can shake hands! Because our lives were full “I Didn’t Do It” by Ivan Alibi. 2. Some didn’t like him having an overseas But to bury us before we’re dead “Split Personalities” by Jacqueline Hyde. holiday - now no one can have an overseas Is like red rag to a bull! “Joys of Cowardice” by Lily Livard. holiday! So here you find me stuck inside For 4 weeks, maybe more “Sailing Round the World” by Madge Ellen. 3. Some don’t want him going to a Sharks game I finally found myself again “Ship Mysteries” by Marie Celeste. - now no one can go to any footy games! Then I had to close the door! 4. Some called him an arsehole - now nobody It didn’t really bother me “Political Correctness” by Noah Fence. I’d while away the hour can wipe theirs! “Life Before the Automobile” by Orson I’d bake for all the family Buggy. 5. There is a lesson in this! – Think before you But I’ve got no bloody flour! piss Scomo off! Now Netflix is just wonderful “Italian Smallgoods” by Pepe Roney. I like a gutsy thriller I’m swooning over Idris Or some random sexy killer. At least I’ve got a stash of booze For when I’m being idle There’s wine and whiskey, even gin If I’m feeling suicidal! So, let’s all drink to lockdown To recovery and health And hope this bloody virus *** Doesn’t decimate our wealth. We’ll all get through the crisis If anyone is gonna make a face mask And be back to join our mates out of an old bra, make sure you use Just hoping I’m not far too wide the left cup. To fit through the flaming gates! You don’t want to go out looking like a right tit! ***
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Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 19. General Interest – Humour.
Contributed by Alan Rudd… Contributed by Doug Walker… Coupla Giggles
10 of 81 Crazy Things You Probably Didn't Know About Australia. 20. In 1832, 300 female convicts mooned the governor of Tasmania. It was said that in a “rare moment of collusion with the convict women, the ladies in the Governor’s party could not control their laughter.” 21. Australia is home to the longest fence in the world It is 5,614 km long, and was originally built to keep dingoes away from fertile land. Strangely, it’s known as “The rabbit proof fence” 22. Australia was one of the founding members of the United Nations. (Time to quit now). 23. Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of the world, as it has more top level sport available for its citizens than anywhere else. 24. Before the arrival of humans, Australia was home to megafauna: three metre tall kangaroos, seven metre long goannas, horse-sized ducks, and a marsupial lion the size of a leopard. 25. Kangaroos and emus cannot walk
backward, one of the reasons why they’re *** on the Australian coat of arms. Contributed by Alan Rudd… 26. Speaking of which, Australia is one of the Some Quickies only countries where we eat the animals on our coat of arms. I dialled a number and got the following recording: "I am not available right now but 27. If you visited one new beach in Australia thank you for caring enough to call. I am every day, it would take over 27 years to making some changes in my life. Please leave a see them all. message after the beep. If I do not return your 28. Melbourne has the world’s largest Greek call, then you are one of the changes." population outside of Athens. ~ 29. The Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s My wife and I had words, but I didn't get to use largest living structure. mine. *** ~ Contributed by Doug Walker… Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses. ~ The irony of life is that by the time you're old enough to know your way around, you're not going anywhere. ~ I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one. ~ What's the difference between stress, tension and panic? Stress is when your wife is pregnant, tension is when girlfriend is pregnant, and panic is when both are pregnant.
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Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 20. General Interest – Humour.
Contributed by Tony Holloway…
#COVID-19 Pandemic Humour
Continued next page…
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 21. General Interest - Humour
Contributed by Tony Holloway…
#COVID-19 Pandemic Humour
“Let me be clear. Anyone caught with over 100 rolls of toilet paper will be charged with possession with an intent to distribute.”
After Quarantine.
Far away, on a hillside, a very specialised breed of dog heard the cry of distress.
I washed my hands so much due to #COVID-19, that my exam notes from 1995 resurfaced. Continued next page…
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 22. General Interest - Humour
Contributed by Tony Holloway…
#COVID-19 Pandemic Humour
When I’m bored, I go around putting these stickers on paper towel dispensers.
No toilet paper? Build a backyard bidet!
*** Contributed by Tony Holloway…
‘ASSEMBERY IN USA’
The idea had to come from somewhere.
*** Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 23. General Interest - Humour
Contributed by Doug Hughes…
Swing that club, dear!
This is Sarah. She is 45 years old; she has two children, she has never exercised a day in her life, she eats anything she wants and occasionally stays up till 3am drinking and partying. What’s her secret? Nothing, she is the girl in the background (top right).
*** There was a time when we would protest for things that mattered. Contributed by Tony Holloway…
Government: Work from home…Lifeguards. Some More
This is Wilson. He is now working from home.
When bartenders find new jobs after all the bars close down.
***
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 24. General Interest - Humour
Contributed by Augie…
Blonde Teenager Wanting to Earn Some Extra Money
A blonde teenager, wanting to earn some extra money for the summer, decided to hire herself out as a "handywoman". She started canvassing a nearby well-to-do area. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any odd jobs for her to do. "Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint my porch," he said, "How much will you charge me?" Delighted, the girl quickly responded, "How about $50?" The man agreed and told her that the paint brushes and everything she would need was in the garage. The man's wife, hearing the conversation said to her husband, "Does she realize that our porch goes ALL the way around the house?" He responded, "That's a bit cynical, isn't it?" The wife replied, "You're right. I guess I'm starting to believe all those dumb blonde jokes we've been getting by email lately." Later that day, the blonde teenager came to the door to collect her money. "You're finished already?" the startled husband asked. "Yes, she replied, and I even had paint left over, so I gave it two coats." Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $50.00 and handed it to her along with a $10.00 tip. “And by the way ...," the teenager added, "it's not a Porch, it's a Lexus." ***
Contributed by Doug Walker… Some More Coronavirus Smiles
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 25. Members’ Noticeboard
Answers for the ‘Quiz for Older Kids’ The Broken Hill Mineral Club 1. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver Inc. 2020 Gem and Mineral bullet. Show. October Long weekend. 2. The Ed Sullivan Show. 3. On Route 66. 4. To protect the innocent. 5. The Lion Sleeps Tonight. 6. The limbo. 7. Chocolate. 8. Louis Armstrong. 9. The Timex Watch. 10. Freddy, The Freeloader and 'Good Night and God Bless.' 11. Draft cards (Bras were also burned. Not flags, as some have guessed). 12. Beetle or Bug. 13. Buddy Holly. 14. Sputnik. 15. Hula-hoop. 16. Lucky Strike/Means Fine Tobacco.
17. Howdy Doody Time. 18. Shadow. *** 19. Monster Mash. 20. Speedy. Send this Quiz to your “older” friends, (Better known as Seniors.) It’ll drive ’em crazy! And NB. We have not yet been advised that keep them busy and let them forget their aches the Broken Hill show listed above has and pains for a few minutes. been cancelled…they may be hoping that current pandemic restrictions may *** be lifted by then??? ***
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Useful Internet Links
2020 Australian Gem & Mineral Calendar: Click here... Adelaide Gem and Mineral Club: Click here... AFLACA-GMCASA: Click here... Australian Federation of Lapidary and Allied Crafts Association (AFLACA): Click here... Australian Lapidary Club Directory: Click here... Australian Lapidary Forum: Click here... Enfield Gem and Mineral Club Inc: Click here... Flinders Gem, Geology, and Mineral Club Inc: Click here... Gem and Mineral Clubs Association of South Australia: Click here... Gemcuts: Click here... Lapidary World: Click here... Metal Detectors - Garrett Australia: Click here... Metal Detectors - Miners Den Adelaide: Click here... Mineralogical Society of SA Inc: Click here... Murraylands Gem and Mineral Club Inc: Click here... NQ Explorers: Click here... Prospecting Australia: Click here... Southern Rockhounds: Click here... Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club: Click here... The Australian Mineral Collector: Click here...
Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club Incorporated, Old Tea Tree Gully School, Dowding Terrace, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, 5091. Page 26.